RIJEKA RIJEKA, Oct 10 (Hina) - During his two-day visit to Croatia, Italy's President Carlo Azeglio Ciampi, accompanied by his host Croatia's President Stjepan Mesic, on Wednesday toured the seaport of Rijeka where he met
representatives of the ethnic Italian community and local authorities. President Ciampi said he was glad to be the first Italian head of state to have visited Rijeka and the local secondary Italian school, "which is a symbol of coexistence" between people of different ethnic and cultural origins. Italy and Croatia will together struggle for a united Europe and for the promotion of all characteristics which such a Europe should have such as principles of freedom, democracy and human rights, Italian president said. He pointed to Croatia's contribution to the creation of stability in the Balkans as well as a role of Italy "which has for years been contributing to the creation of peace in that region". According
RIJEKA, Oct 10 (Hina) - During his two-day visit to Croatia, Italy's
President Carlo Azeglio Ciampi, accompanied by his host Croatia's
President Stjepan Mesic, on Wednesday toured the seaport of Rijeka
where he met representatives of the ethnic Italian community and
local authorities.
President Ciampi said he was glad to be the first Italian head of
state to have visited Rijeka and the local secondary Italian
school, "which is a symbol of coexistence" between people of
different ethnic and cultural origins.
Italy and Croatia will together struggle for a united Europe and for
the promotion of all characteristics which such a Europe should
have such as principles of freedom, democracy and human rights,
Italian president said.
He pointed to Croatia's contribution to the creation of stability
in the Balkans as well as a role of Italy "which has for years been
contributing to the creation of peace in that region". According to
Ciampi, his country's contribution in this sense is the second
largest, following the United States' role.
Speaking about the Italian-Croatian relations, Ciampi said the
history of Istria, Kvarner and Dalmatia had not been marked only by
sad and painful events from the 1940s but also by centuries of
coexistence of local citizens in those areas.
Italy and Croatia should treat the Adriatic sea as a sea that brings
these two countries together, the Italian statesman said adding
that Zagreb and Rome could cooperate particularly in tourism,
economy and in measures taken as to counter terrorism.
(hina) ms